This week feels like the start of summer in Barry County. Yoga in the Park with B.Healthy Barry kicks off tonight, Hastings Live begins Wednesday with an incredible lineup of free concerts all summer long, and many of us are counting down to Very Barry, the big summer kickoff event happening this Saturday! When I think about the organizations and businesses here that are doing hard work to make our community a thriving place to call home, I feel a strong sense of abundance and gratitude to have landed here.
A Shift in Perspective
Living in a rural community, it can be easy to focus on services that don’t exist, problems that need fixing, gaps that feel impossible to fill. While it’s important to understand those challenges, we’ve realized that constantly focusing on deficits can leave communities feeling overwhelmed and under-resourced. That’s why we’re taking a different approach.
At The Ability Collective, we believe the biggest shifts start by building on what already works. So in our current community solutions assessment, we’re flipping the script: instead of asking what’s not here, we’re asking what’s already working and how can we grow it?
And let us tell you: Barry County has a lot that’s working.
From welcoming town centers, to grassroots arts and culture initiatives, Barry County is already full of people stepping up, working together, and making a difference. Have you seen the new farmstand at the Nashville Community Gardens? Or heard about the Barry County Mobile Markets offering meal kits and fresh produce? We’ve witnessed creative programming in public spaces, neighbors helping neighbors, and small businesses creating meaningful opportunities. These are starting points for lasting change.
By focusing on the assets that already exist in Barry County, we can build on what’s working and expand those opportunities to include everyone, especially individuals with disabilities and their families. Rather than stretching our resources to patch every gap, we’re choosing to invest in what’s already thriving and ensure those efforts are accessible and welcoming to all. This strengths-based approach offers a clearer, more sustainable path forward by building from a place of momentum, connection, and inclusion.
What’s to Come
Later this week, we’re launching a survey designed to highlight what’s already working in Barry County: what people value, where they feel welcome, and what supports their ability to thrive. And later this summer, we’ll host listening sessions across the county to hear directly from individuals and families, especially those with disabilities, about their experiences and ideas for making these community assets even more inclusive.
So here’s to the people and programs in Barry County who are already making a difference. You are the blueprint. You are proof that Barry County can build inclusive, community-driven solutions and we’re honored to keep building with you.